Hearing Hua Yue’s words, Xiao Yufan actually felt a bit awkward about making any demands. Women, with their pretty faces, always made things so difficult for men!
The eldest apprentice from Baihua Island must definitely be a beauty!
Thinking it through, Xiao Yufan figured rescuing someone wouldn’t be a loss for him. On one hand, he could obtain the Tianzang Flower, and on the other, he could play the hero and save a beauty—just imagining the image made him feel instantly more impressive.
“Let’s go save her first!”
Ying’er was still watching nearby, so naturally Xiao Yufan had to act restrained. As for whether Hua Yue would offer herself in gratitude, that was a private matter better discussed later.
Upon hearing Xiao Yufan agree, Hua Yue finally showed a charming smile, while the other women gradually calmed down. At this point, they had clearly come to regard Xiao Yufan and his group as their lifeline.
Under Hua Yue’s guidance, Xiao Yufan and the others crossed a small hill and soon arrived at the place where they had previously fled.
“The Tianzang Flower prefers cool, shady places, so it’s understandable it grows here. But how did you manage to find this place…”
Xiao Yufan noticed the chaotic footprints on the ground, clearly imagining how desperate the women must have been at that moment. The beast’s strength was undeniably formidable—one could tell just from the traces of their battle.
“It was the Beixing Island people. They tricked us into coming here. They must have discovered the beast here from the beginning!”
At the mention of Beixing Island, Hua Yue’s beautiful eyes turned icy. Among the three major islands in the Southern Sea, Beixing Island and Baihua Island had always been at odds, yet both sides had held back, never truly engaging in open conflict. Who would have guessed that as soon as they entered this mysterious land, Beixing Island would make the first move.
“It’s also your fault for being too naive and falling for their trick so easily!”
Xiao Yufan shook his head, not dwelling too much on the feud between Beixing Island and Baihua Island. It was true he would save the woman, but that didn’t mean he wanted to get involved in their conflict—he had more important matters to attend to.
If the outer regions of this mysterious land already contained strange treasures like the Tianzang Flower, one could only imagine how many things lay deeper inside that would make his heart race. The legacy left behind from the previous ancient martial arts era alone was enough to send his blood surging.
Pouting slightly, Hua Yue didn’t deny Xiao Yufan’s words. They had practically never left Baihua Island before—how could they possibly understand the intentions of those annoying Beixing Island people? Luckily, this time they had encountered good people.
Would Xiao Yufan feel even more awkward if he knew Hua Yue and the others regarded him as a good person? After all, his reasons for rescuing them weren’t out of altruism, but for the Tianzang Flower.
“Head north, there’s movement over there!”
Stopping briefly, Xiao Yufan carefully sensed the surrounding fluctuations in energy before confirming that the sounds of battle were indeed coming from the north. The eldest apprentice from Baihua Island must be no ordinary person to have survived this long.
But from here on out, it would be a classic scene of a hero rescuing a beauty!
Although Xiao Yufan deliberately slowed his pace, he still moved surprisingly fast. Seeing this, Hua Yue felt even more certain she had chosen the right person, for this man’s speed rivaled even the eldest apprentice’s.
In the quiet valley, even footsteps echoed clearly. As they moved further north, the sounds of combat grew increasingly distinct.
As the sound of rushing water reached Xiao Yufan’s ears, his vision was met with a graceful figure, and standing before her was a monstrous beast whose name he couldn’t even guess.
“Be careful!”
Perhaps having heard their approach, the woman glanced sideways, her beautiful eyes locking instantly with Xiao Yufan’s. Although her face was partially veiled, it couldn’t hide the breathtaking beauty beneath her enchanting gaze.
Her eyes sparkled like autumn waters, her skin as smooth as jade, her eyebrows like painted rainbows, and her fragrance noticeable even from a hundred meters away!
Even such a description seemed too simple for Xiao Yufan to capture her beauty. If he were to describe her, he would add four more lines to the verse:
Emerging from white clouds in simple attire,
Descending into the mortal world with unmatched beauty,
Exuding serene grace,
Shy like the late evening breeze.
As Xiao Yufan was admiring the woman, she was equally studying him.
The beast, naturally, didn’t miss this opportunity. Seizing the moment of her distraction, it launched a fierce attack. Despite its massive size, it moved with startling agility.
After shouting a warning, Xiao Yufan suddenly accelerated. Having promised Hua Yue to save the woman, he certainly didn’t want the beast to succeed!
The sudden appearance of a stranger startled Huayun for a moment, but she quickly recovered. Letting out a low hum, her delicate figure swiftly retreated several steps.
The beast’s massive paw came crashing down exactly where she had stood moments before, and a chill ran down her back in the aftermath. This creature was like an indestructible cockroach—its thick hide rendered her attacks useless.
Seeing that the woman had easily evaded the attack unharmed, Xiao Yufan couldn’t help but feel a little surprised. He could sense that her strength was slightly superior to his own—probably at the middle stage of the Innate Realm. Yet even someone of her caliber had been reduced to such a desperate state by a mere beast.
The beast itself was also in a terrible condition. Sure, its hide was thick, but after being engaged in battle with this woman for so long, it had become enraged. It was determined to tear this human apart!
“Esteemed sir, might I ask for your assistance? I shall reward you handsomely upon success!”
Huayun didn’t know that Xiao Yufan had been summoned by Hua Yue; she mistook him for a passing traveler. Judging from his speed, she could tell that this man’s strength was definitely formidable.
“No need for any reward. Consider it a case of a hero rescuing a beauty—it’s reward enough…”
Xiao Yufan smiled, his gaze never leaving Huayun’s slender frame. He believed that beneath that white veil must lie an incomparable beauty; otherwise, why would this woman hide herself?
A flash of coldness flickered in Huayun’s eyes. She deeply disliked being looked at like that by men. If it weren’t for her uncertainty about Xiao Yufan’s true abilities and the looming threat of the beast, she would have definitely punished this man severely for the disrespect in his gaze.
The man himself had no idea that a mere glance had already planted resentment in the beauty’s heart. But he wasn’t one to lose his head over lust—he knew exactly what he should be doing at this moment.
His gaze swept over the beast’s massive body before settling on the crimson Tianzang Flower nearby. Obtaining that flower seemed well worth the effort—even if it meant fighting this ferocious beast.
Tai Sui Yellow Amulet Paper FuLu Taoist Love Talisman Traditional Chinese Spiritual Charm Attracting Love Protecting Marriage